Being humble helps us to have compassion for others, regardless the social status and economic position. But something that we must take into account is that we must be good people and not be haughty with what we have, and that’s why we will talk about the story of Lazarus and the rich man.
But in contrast he also tells us about another man named Lazarus, who had nothing to eat, much less a place to dwell:
20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:20,21
Lazarus was always laid against the door of that place, but he was also full of sores and this man was despised by all the people who passed by there.
The Bible says that this rich man always went by where Lazarus was, but every time he passed by, Lazarus wanted him to feed him because he was hungry. Then something inevitable happened, which happens to any person, from the richest to the poorest:
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
Luke 16:22
Unfortunately, money can not save us from death, much less be prosecuted for our bad deeds:
In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
Luke 16:23
And the papers were flipped. While in life the rich had their delights and Lazarus went through hardship, after death Lazarus enjoyed and the rich suffered:
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
Luke 16:24
And nothing can be done:
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
Luke 16:25
The things of this world remain here. When you die, you can not take anything. After death, you only have to pay for your deeds or enjoy if you were straight before God. And we see in this story that Lazarus received his reward, while the rich man was tormented, with no hope of improving his situation.
As the rich could not do anything to get out of that sad state, he made a request so that his family members would not fall into the same:
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,
28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
Luke 16:27-28
And the end of this story is more than clear, it is not necessary to explain it:
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 16:29-31
After death there is no turning back, there is no one to testify of what there is. We have the Word of God and it is the one that gives testimony of what awaits us if we follow or not the precepts of God, so we must follow the path that it shows us, to be saved from that punishment.
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